Boccia UK continues to be consistent

Having scooped a medal haul of one gold and three bronzes, Boccia UK athletes return home from the Montreal World Cup and are looking ahead to their next major event.

With the first ever European Para Championships taking place in August in Rotterdam, which features ten sports including boccia, Performance Director Greg Baker says that “consistency is paying off across the squad.”

In Montreal, medals for Great Britain came from Eastleigh’s David Smith OBE who again won the gold and stamped his authority on the BC1 men’s category. In a thrilling final with Portugal’s Andre Ramos, who is well known on the circuit for propelling the ball with amazing accuracy with his left foot. Smith came out on top with a 5-2 win:

“I was really happy with my game and my performance. I felt like I finally hit my level in the final. Earlier in the week, I found it tricky with muscle stiffness and inconsistent rolls but I was finally able to relax into the game. Andre is a great rival and it’s always enjoyable to share a court with him.”

Elsewhere in the individual competition, Northern Ireland’s Claire Taggart took the bronze medal. Following on from her gold medal in Zagreb just a few weeks ago, the result will earn her all-important ranking points ahead of the Paralympic Games in Paris next year. Stephen McGuire and Jamie McCowan also finished just out of the medals in fourth place.

But perhaps the highlight of the World Cup came in the Team and Pairs event in which the BC4 Pair and the BC1/2 Team both won bronze medals. The Team has made huge strides in recent months, having worked their way towards podium positions including triumphing at the World Championships last December.

This time, Will Hipwell – the man in the centre of the court between Smith and Taggart – was switched out for newcomer Kayleigh Haggo, the Scot who is more well known for her success in framerunning with six world records to her name. Playing the winning shot, she was thrilled with her performance:

“Winning a bronze with the Team and placing ninth individually is more than I ever imagined at my first World Cup. I still cannot believe that 14 months into the sport, I am competing against and beside the best boccia athletes in the world.”

And Stephen McGuire and Fiona Muirhead also made history in the BC4 Pair. Muirhead joined the Boccia UK squad in 2022 and has steadily enjoyed increasing success against world class opposition. Together, the Lanarkshire duo clinched bronze after overcoming Colombia 3-1, enabling Muirhead to celebrate her first-ever World Cup medal. McGuire explained:

“The BC4 category is extremely tough and we’ve been able to beat countries who sit above us in the world rankings which takes true grit and talent.”

Performance Director Greg Baker was really pleased with the results:

“The squad has continued to take momentum and consistency into the summer training block and in preparation for the Europeans in August. We have seen great performances in Montreal against world class opposition but we also know there are areas to work on and build towards which is exciting for the future.

“Our long-term ambition is to enjoy increased breadth and depth across all classifications, with athletes having realistic medal chances in both individual and Team and Pair events at the major competitions. Our experiences in Zagreb and Montreal has felt as if we have stepped closer to that goal but we know there is a long journey ahead if we are to fully realise that ambition.”

Plan to put Boccia UK on map advances

Boccia UK Performance Director Greg Baker plans “to keep putting Boccia UK on the map” as he names eight athletes in the team competing at the Montreal World Cup.

The Great Britain team – fresh from topping the medals table at the Zagreb Challenger and winning three medals at the World Championships – will battle it out from 24-30 April at Arena Maurice-Richard. The tournament is set to welcome more than 100 athletes from 28 nations.

And Baker says the squad is aiming to build on recent winning momentum:

“The World Championships in Rio last December showed how Britain can perform at the highest levels. It was the first time that we had featured in three World Championships finals and athletes were defeating top level opposition. In Zagreb too, we topped the medals table which gives us confidence going into Montreal.

“We’re now in a position where we’re striving to increase our strength in depth and breadth across the World Class Programme. We’re a small but ambitious squad and we plan to keep putting Boccia UK on the map.”

David Smith OBE, Claire Taggart and Will Arnott - who each won gold medals in Zagreb - have made the cut for Canada and will be aiming to earn additional qualification points for the Paralympic Games in Paris next year.

Ayr’s Kayleigh Haggo has also received a call-up and will compete individually in the BC2 category as well as part of the BC1/2 Team with Smith and Taggart. Haggo – who holds six world records as a frame runner – is a relative newcomer to the sport of boccia and has already stepped onto the World Class Programme, which is supported by UK Sport, the National Lottery and DCMS.

Kayleigh haggo to play her first ever world cup

While Haggo has represented Britain at Challenger events, this will be her first experience of a World Cup - the top flight of international boccia competition:

“I’m really excited to be going to my first World Cup. The top 10 female BC2 players in the world will be there and, to be honest, I still can’t believe I’m going to be competing amongst the best in the world after just 14 months in the sport. I also can’t wait to be part of the Team competition alongside Claire Taggart and David Smith.”

Incredibly, the 24-year-old is fresh from achieving a new T72 100m world record last weekend:

“I do juggle both sports pretty well,” says Haggo. “They both complement each other which is good. After breaking a new world record at the weekend, I now need to reset and shift my focus to Montreal.”

kayleigh on her way to a world record in 100m - credit peter milsom

Jamie McCowan also makes it back on court with Mum and ramp assistant, Linda. It will be the first tournament of the season for the BC3 duo from Dundonald:

“It’s great to be going back to Montreal. It’s a venue where I made my international debut back in 2008 when I was just 13. It’s a place with good memories of previous medal success too.”

Robyn McBride from Antrim joins Reading’s Will Arnott in the BC3 category while Stephen McGuire and Fiona Muirhead – both from Lanarkshire – will be aiming for top spots.

McGuire returned home from Zagreb with a bronze medal to add to his collection while Muirhead – another new recruit to the Boccia UK squad – finished just outside the medals in fourth place.

The Boccia UK squad for Montreal is as follows:

BC1 Male            David Smith (Sarah Nolan)

BC2 Female        Claire Taggart (Stevie Taggart)

BC2 Female        Kayleigh Haggo (Kevin Brown)

BC3 Male            Jamie McCowan (Linda McCowan)

BC3 Male            Will Arnott (Connor Wellfare)

BC3 Female        Robyn McBride (Davy McBride)

BC4 Male            Stephen McGuire (Michaela Rihackova)

BC4 Female        Fiona Muirhead (Nicky McNeil)

Former Czech Republic national coach to develop British boccia talent

A former head national coach of the Czech Republic has been appointed to develop British boccia talent.

Boccia UK, together with Boccia England, Disability Sport Northern Ireland, Scottish Disability Sport and Disability Sport Wales, are progressing with plans to develop an exciting and new Talent Transition Squad, in a bid to better nurture and develop talented athletes.

Lauren and michaela join the boccia uk coaching team

In the first major development to build the squad, Boccia UK has today named Michaela Rihackova as its Talent Transition Coach.

The Talent Transition Squad is designed to help support selected athletes from across the UK that show potential of competing at the highest levels. It aims to bridge the gap between players competing domestically and athletes that are supported by the World Class Programme.

Rihackova has coached boccia since 2010 and was head national coach of the Czech Republic from 2015 to 2019, nurturing the talents of current Paralympic champion Adam Peska.

A member of the World Boccia Development Committee over the last eight years, Rihackova is also a national classifier, international referee and sports assistant to Britain’s Stephen McGuire who became European Champion last November.

She says:

“I am really looking forward to being a part of the journeys of talented athletes here in Great Britain. Ever since I first started my own boccia journey in 2010 as a BC3 assistant and then a coach, I knew I wanted the sport of boccia to be a big part of my life. I can’t wait to share my knowledge and experience with Britain’s up and coming athletes to help them to achieve their full potential.”

Performance Director Greg Baker and Head of Performance Pathway Liz Fisher have already outlined the ambitions for the Talent Transition Squad in this Q&A.

Initially, the squad will feature a small number of players but the hope is that it will grow in the future. The squad selection process will commence once Rihackova is in post from April onwards.

Meanwhile, Lauren Kianchehr also joins Boccia UK as World Class Programme Camps and Competition Coach, to help support Performance Coaches Glynn Tromans and Claire Morrison, and team coach Sarah Nolan at international camps and competitions.

Kianchehr has been a coach in the England talent pathway for the last eight years and has refereed since 2013. For the last four years, she has travelled around the globe as an international referee and she has also undertaken an advanced coaching programme. She has already supported Boccia UK at recent competitions including the World Championships last December.

“I’m excited because I love being around elite boccia,” says Kianchehr. “The squad has warmly welcomed me over the last few years and I’m looking forward to working with them more in the run up to the Paris Paralympic Games.”

Performance Director Greg Baker is delighted with the appointments:

“We are thrilled to be growing our coaching team and to appoint two highly experienced female coaches is a real bonus for Boccia UK. Michaela has a fantastic boccia CV and we can’t wait for her to start work with the new Talent Transition Squad. Likewise, Lauren brings brilliant energy and will be a huge asset to the squad as we head towards Paris 2024.”

Lauren has been selected by UK Sport for its Coach in High Performance Sport’ Programme.

Both roles are a commitment of around 70 days a year. It is hoped that the positions will grow and evolve but are subject to funding post Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Silver in Team makes it six in Zagreb

Will hipwell and claire taggart celebrate

Great Britain boccia stars added another silver medal to add to their impressive tally at the World Boccia Zagreb Challenger. Winning three golds, two silvers and a bronze, the Boccia UK squad finished at the top of the medals table.

Winning more medals and more golds than any other nation, Performance Director Greg Baker says they are feeling confident for the rest of the season:

“It’s been a brilliant tournament and gives us a boost before the first World Cup of 2023 which is in Montreal at the end of the month. To win six medals here against nations like Portugal and Brazil means that everything’s moving in the right direction.”

The squad celebrated a five-strong medal haul from the individual stages in Croatia before adding a silver medal from the BC1/2 Team event. David Smith OBE, Claire Taggart and Will Hipwell now return home with two medals, after they each secured medals as individuals.

Northern Ireland’s Taggart – who became BC2 World Champion in December – and Smith, Britain’s best boccia player of all time, both cemented their spots at the top of the rankings with gold medals as qualification opened for Paris Paralympic Games 2024.

Meanwhile, the tournament will live long in the memory of Paralympian Will Hipwell, who won his first individual medal at an international event.

Sarah Payne, who coaches the Team event, said:

“After winning silver in the Team event at the Worlds in December, we wanted to maintain our momentum in Croatia of all the hard work that was put in last season, We had a rocky start against Azerbaijan with three athletes who were all tired from playing individual finals the previous day.

“But they used all that they had learnt last year to dig deep and produce the results to finish top of their pool. A good semi-final saw us through to the final against Portugal. They played brilliantly and we’re looking to take that momentum into the rest of the year.”

BC3 player Will Arnott, from Reading, secured his first ever gold medal at an international event while Stephen McGuire won bronze in the BC4 category which was welcomed after months of rehabilitation following a serious injury at the beginning of last year.

Other highlights included Fiona Muirhead and Sally Kidson, achieving fourth place. Salisbury’s Kidson – who has just turned 18 - described feeling “absolutely over the moon” after beating World Champion Ana Costa in the group stages. She went on to narrowly lose 3-2 in her bronze medal match to one of the world’s best players from Brazil. In the Pairs matches, she teamed up with Edinburgh’s Patrick Wilson and again finished fourth.

GB top medal table

Boccia UK has got off to a flying start to the season, winning five medals in the individual competition of the World Boccia Zagreb Challenger.

The GB squad topped the medals table, winning more medals and more golds than any other nation.

David Smith MBE, Claire Taggart and Will Arnott all stormed to gold medals. And for Arnott from Reading, it was his first ever gold medal at an international event:

“This is a fantastic win for Will,” said Greg Baker, Boccia UK Performance Director. “He’s had to beat the very best here including the current BC3 Paralympic Champion in the final.”

Will arnott wins gold

Northern Ireland’s Taggart – who became BC2 World Champion in December – and Smith, Britain’s best boccia player of all time, also cemented their position at the top of the rankings as qualification opened for Paris Paralympic Games 2024.

Also on the medal table for GB was Will Hipwell who won silver. Despite winning silver as part of the Team event at the World Championships last year, it was the BC2 player’s first ever individual medal at an international event.

will hipwell and claire taggart celebrate their success

Stephen McGuire completed the collection with a bronze medal in the BC4 category. It came after months of rehabilitation following a serious injury at the beginning of last year.

Baker says the results in Zagreb augur well for the countdown to Paris:

“It’s been a fantastic tournament so far and sets us up well ahead of the Montreal World Cup in April. To win five medals here against nations like Portugal and Brazil means that everything’s moving in the right direction.”

“And while they may not be returning home with medals, Fiona Muirhead and Sally Kidson, who’s just 18, both achieved fourth place which is superb, especially given they’ve only just stepped onto the World Class Programme.

A real highlight of the tournament for me was watching Sally beat World Champion Ana Costa in the group stages and then narrowly losing 3-2 in her bronze medal match to one of the world’s best players from Brazil. She’s very new to international competition but she is already proving that she can compete against the best.”

sally kidson making her mark at just 18 years old

But there’s no time for the squad to celebrate. Today, the squad begins their Team and Pairs campaign and are hoping to further boost their medal haul.

Ten off to Zagreb

A ten-strong Boccia UK team will head to the Zagreb Challenger next week. It is the first tournament of 2023 and the British boccia stars are riding high following a hugely successful World Championships last December.

Claire Taggart’s BC2 World Championship title in Rio has sent her to the number one position in the world rankings and she will certainly be the one to beat in Croatia. But she is taking it all in her stride:

CLAIRE TAGGART READY FOR ZAGREB CHALLENGER

“Boccia is a little different to other sports,” explains Taggart. “One wrong shot or decision can completely shift the game from winning to losing. There are no easy medals and, with the Paralympics just around the corner, it’s important to treat each competition as an opportunity to competE against the best in the world, both individually and within the BC1/2 Team.

Likewise, David Smith, still reigning in the men’s BC1 world number one spot, will, as ever, have a target on his back when the individual competition kicks off on 27 March. He was unable to defend his world title in December, returning home with silver, but is keen to start the season:

“With the Montreal World Cup next month and the European Champs in August, Zagreb gives me the opportunity to build some momentum for the season ahead. I’m in good form and am looking forward to getting out there again. Obviously, losing my world title in Rio was disappointing so I’m looking forward to returning to winning ways hopefully.”

tHE bc1/2 tEAM AIMING TO BUI8LD ON MOMENTUM FROM WORLDS

The British BC1/2 Team – made up of Taggart, Smith and Will Hipwell – claimed a third medal for GB at the World Championships, winning silver in Rio and they will also be looking for a solid performance, earning further ranking points to qualify for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

New kid on the block Sally Kidson from Salisbury has also earned selection for Zagreb. Having recently stepped onto the World Class Programme, supported by UK Sport and The National Lottery, the 18-year-old will be aiming to gain further international experience. Last August, she made her first appearance for Boccia UK at the Poznan Challenger in style, finishing in fourth place.

SALLY KIDSON HAS ALSO BEEN SELECTED FOR ZAGREB

The full selected squad is:

·       David Smith (assisted by Sarah Nolan)

·       Claire Taggart (assisted by Stevie Taggart)

·       Will Hipwell (assisted by Alice Hipwell)

·       Louis Saunders (assisted by Steve Richards)

·       Patrick Wilson (assisted by Meredith Greenwood)

·       Will Arnott (assisted by Connor Wellfare)

·       Robyn McBride (assisted by Davy McBride)

·       Sally Kidson (assisted by Sarah Kidson)

·       Stephen McGuire (assisted by Michaela Rihackova)

·       Fiona Muirhead (assisted by Carol Rowe)

Performance Director Greg Baker said:

“This is the first competition of the year and we’re looking forward to building on the momentum the squad created at the World Championships last year. Given this is the start of a qualification year towards Paris, we wanted to enter the first possible competition with a full squad as possible, to hit the ground running and prepare towards the Montreal World Cup in April. 

“We have had a really good first three months of training and preparation and all the athletes and staff are looking forward to getting back into the competition environment.”

Fab four join World Class Programme

Boccia UK has today announced that four new athletes will join the World Class Programme.

The athletes who have earned their spot on the World Class Programme, supported by UK Sport and The National Lottery are:

·       Robyn McBride from Antrim, Northern Ireland

·       Kayleigh Haggo, from Ayr, Scotland

·       Fiona Muirhead from Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland

·       Sally Kidson from Salisbury, Wiltshire 

 In total, there are now 12 athletes in the Boccia UK squad that receive funding as part of the World Class Programme. Each athlete on the programme is supported at day-to-day training and any competitions they attend, as well as services such as physiotherapy and strength and conditioning, thanks to UK Sport, The National Lottery and the DCMS. 

Robyn McBride (BC3)

Robyn Mcbride joins boccia uk world class programme

McBride, 24, made her debut for Boccia UK at the World Cup in Rio last April and has since demonstrated huge potential. She reached the last 16 at December’s World Championships, defeating highly ranked players such as Thailand’s Ladamanee Kia-Han, the then world number four, en route. Last year, the Northern Ireland star also won a silver in the BC3 Pairs with Will Arnott at the Veldhoven World Boccia Challenger as well as a bronze in the BC3 individual event.

The player – joined on court by Dad Davy as ramp assistant – was brought onto the World Class Programme for an initial trial period of six months but has now firmly cemented her place in the squad.

“I’ve loved every minute of being on the Boccia UK squad and am thrilled to be continuing on the World Class Programme in the build up to Paris 2024,” explained Robyn. “We’ve got a busy schedule ahead of us in which we need to gain vital ranking points but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’d like to thank the National Lottery players who make this all possible.”

Kayleigh Haggo (BC2)

kayleigh haggo joins boccia uk world class programme

Haggo is already known for her sporting prowess – but in the sport of frame-running as world record holder over 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m. The Ayr athlete set her first world record at the age of 12 and made her first appearance for Boccia UK at the World Boccia Poznan Challenger in August. She juggles training and competing alongside her job as an Active Schools Coordinator for people with additional support needs in South Ayrshire. In 2017, she was named as one of 30 most inspiring women under 30 by YMCA Scotland.

“I’m absolutely delighted to have been selected onto the World Class Programme. Words cannot describe how excited, happy and grateful I am for this opportunity. Huge thanks to UK Sport, The National Lottery and Boccia UK for their support and for believing in me. I can’t wait for this next opportunity.”

Fiona Muirhead (BC4)

fiona muirhead (on the left) joins boccia uk world class programme

2023 was also the breakthrough year for Fiona Muirhead. The Lanarkshire player reached the last 16 at the World Championships and has been making good progress in the BC4 Pairs with Stephen McGuire. The 40-year-old first tried her hand at curling but the cold conditions didn’t suit her. Switching to boccia, she says the sport has had a positive impact on her condition, muscular dystrophy.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to Great Britain and I’m really looking forward to events in 2023 and working towards the Paris Paralympic Games.”

Sally Kidson (BC3)

sally kidson joins boccia uk world class programme

Kidson is 18 years old and is the youngest athlete currently supported by the World Class Programme.

At the age of just 17, she made her Boccia UK debut in style, finishing fourth in the female BC3 category at the World Boccia Poznan Challenger in August. Away from boccia, Sally is a keen musician and has performed with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Resound ensemble and the National Open Youth Orchestra.

“I’m so thankful for Boccia UK for giving me the opportunity to join the World Class Programme and to continue to compete on the international stage. I’m excited to see what the rest of the year brings.”

In total, there are now 12 athletes in the Boccia UK squad that are supported by UK Sport’s World Class Programme. Each athlete receives funding to help with training and competition as well as services such as physiotherapy and strength and conditioning.

Boccia UK Performance Director Greg Baker explains:

“To achieve selection to the World Class Programme, an athlete needs to demonstrate realistic medal winning capabilities for future Paralympic Games. We are really excited to welcome Robyn, Fiona, Kayleigh and Sally onto the programme which really improves our strength and depth at international tournaments.

“Boccia is a thoroughly demanding and exacting sport and we are confident that the new athletes joining the programme have got what it takes to be successful at this level. They have each demonstrated a problem solving and highly strategic mindset that is required to be a world class boccia player and we’re excited to see what the future holds.”

Notes to Editors

Take a look at the full 12 athletes currently supported by Boccia UK World Class Programme.

BC1

David Smith

BC2

Kayleigh Haggo

Will Hipwell

Claire Taggart

BC3

Will Arnott

Sally Kidson

Robyn McBride

Jamie McCowan

Patrick Wilson

BC4

Steph McGuire

Fiona Muirhead

Louis Saunders

UK Sport is the UK’s trusted high-performance experts, powering our greatest athletes, teams, sports and events to achieve positive success. Established in 1997, UK Sport has transformed the high-performance sporting system in the UK – through strategic leadership and investment of National Lottery and Government funds – winning more Olympic and Paralympic medals than ever before and is recognised as one of the top nations in the world for event hosting capabilities. UK Sport’s purpose is to lead high-performance sport to enable extraordinary moments that enrich lives and aims to work collaboratively with partners to deliver the greatest decade of extraordinary moments; reaching, inspiring and uniting the nation. More @ www.uksport.gov.uk 

Q&A: What is the Boccia UK Talent Transition Squad?

Boccia UK, together with Boccia England, Disability Sport Northern Ireland, Scottish Disability Sport and Disability Sport Wales, is launching its first-ever Talent Transition Squad.

We caught up with Performance Director Greg Baker and Head of Performance Pathway Liz Fisher to find out more…..

So, what is the Boccia UK Talent Transition Squad all about?

Greg: We want to make sure we are doing everything we can to develop talent so we have the strength and depth within the British squad competing at major events like Paralympic Games, World Championships and World Cup events. The Talent Transition Squad will help us to support selected athletes from across the UK that show potential of competing at the highest levels.

Liz: Yes, it’s all about bridging the gap between players competing domestically and the athletes that are supported by the World Class Performance programme. In the past, it’s perhaps been quite difficult to break through from domestic levels into international competition. And that’s what we want to change. We are employing a Talent Transition Squad coach and the athletes within the Talent Transition Squad will receive opportunities to play internationally and to attend training camps as well as support from practitioners.

 It sounds really exciting….

Liz: We are super excited! It’s the first time Boccia UK has ever had a Talent Transition Squad with its own Talent Transition Coach. We’ve had individual athletes such as Louis Saunders and Will Arnott who have gone through a transition period between Home Nation and Boccia UK support but nothing like this before!

Greg: It’s a really interesting time for Boccia as a sport. Globally, it is growing and evolving. For the first time in Paris 2024, male and female players will be able to compete in separate events at a Paralympic Games so there are more medals available to us. That’s why it’s so important that we are developing the next generation of talent.

 What’s the ultimate aim?

Greg: We showed at the World Championships in December that we are capable of being a number one nation in the world. For the first time ever at a Worlds, Great Britain featured in three finals. But to be the very best, we need to be honing the talents of those athletes who might not be at World Class Performance squad level just yet but are showing huge potential.

 How many athletes will be supported?

Greg: Initially, it will be quite a small group led by a Talent Transition Squad coach but our hope is that it will grow in the future. It’s a long-term programme which we hope will help produce the great players of the future.

If selected onto the Talent Transition Squad, do I have to stop working with my current coach?

Liz: Absolutely not! In fact, we want Home Nation or personal coaches to be very much part of the player’s journey. They are crucial to the delivery of the Talent Transition Squad and will also have the opportunity to develop skills along the way.

Players selected for the Talent Transition Squad will still attend Home Nation training camps but they’ll also be invited to certain World Class Performance squads too so they can rub shoulders and compete alongside our international athletes.

What is the role of the Talent Transition Squad coach?

Liz: We are currently recruiting a Talent Transition Coach and it will be their job to lead on individual training programmes and the coaching of Talent Transition Squad players at camps and competitions. The Talent Transition Coach will also help provide coaching input in their home training environments. We see it is as a strong partnership between Boccia UK and the Home Nations.

What sort of competitive opportunities would be open to a player in the Talent Transition Squad?

Liz: This year, we have seen the introduction of International Challenger events which are a fantastic introduction to overseas competition. Those events will be really important.

In fact, in 2022, five players outside of the World Class Performance programme have represented Great Britain at these events. Robyn McBride, Fiona Muirhead, Kayleigh Haggo, Reshad Saraj and Sally Kidson have all travelled and competed for Great Britain and it’s been fantastic for their development.

The UK domestic competition circuit will continue to play a key role too.

What are you looking for when you select athletes for the Talent Transition Squad?

Greg: We know that to become a great player at the very top of your game, you need to be an independent learner and a fantastic problem solver. Boccia is a sport which involves making the right decisions at the right time, even when you feel under pressure. Great boccia players can think ahead through multiple different scenarios of how a game can play out and are able to maximise those opportunities.

If you’re selected for the Talent Transition Squad, do you automatically move onto the World Class Performance programme?

Greg: We will regularly review Talent Transition Squad athletes to see if they are meeting the standards to be selected for the World Class Programme. And equally, athletes will also be expected to reach certain standards and demonstrate a positive performance trajectory to continue within the Talent Transition Squad.

What next? How do I apply?

Liz; Home Nations can nominate athletes and Boccia UK can also invite athletes to join the Talent Transition Squad if they feel they have potential.

There will be a full selection policy with Minimum Performance Standards that will provide clear guidance as to how selection decisions will be made.

Laying foundations at DSNI Challenger

After 51 matches contested by 23 players from five nations, the Disability Sport Northern Ireland Challenger yesterday drew to a close.

The UK Challenger series is designed for up and coming players within the UK performance pathway and teams from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are selected by each home nation. This weekend, they were also joined in Antrim by players from Boccia Ireland.

 The first UK Challenger of 2023 saw winners from across the nations. In the BC1/2 category, Boccia Ireland’s Padraic Moran pipped Lewis McConnell of Scotland to the gold on the final throw, winning 4-1. Meanwhile, Moran’s Boccia Ireland team-mate, Dylan Nelson, also made it onto the podium in bronze medal position, having defeated Scotland’s Kayleigh Haggo 9-0.

 In the BC3s, it was a win for Boccia England with Rafael Young overcoming Northern Ireland’s Daniel Elliot 7-2. Michaela Hollywood, also of Northern Ireland, seized the bronze, with a 6-3 triumph over Ross Macneil.

Boccia england’s rafael young takes top honours at dsni challenger

 In the BC4s, Boccia England’s Sophie Newnham continued her winning ways with a 7-2 victory over Scottish Disability Sport’s Fiona Muirhead. Newnham – a pupil at Treloar School and College – claimed the silver in the BC4 category at the UK Championships in Swansea last October. And Penny Froude made it another medal for Boccia England, winning bronze after a 4-1 win over Harrison Smith, also of England.

Sophie newnham wins the Bc4s!

There were some other stand-out performances over the two-day event. Three special awards were presented. The Players’ Award was presented to Northern Ireland’s Michaela Hollywood and assistant Victoria McCoy. England’s Caroline Robinson collected the Home Nations Coach Award while the Officials’ Award went to Rachel Ross and Harrison Smith, both of England.

 Boccia UK Head of Performance Pathway said:

"The UK Challenger series is driven by the home nation organisations and the collective ambition is to build and strengthen the performance pathway so we have greater depth across all Paralympic categories. I'm really excited by the future of boccia in the UK and these tournaments help lay the foundations to competing at an elite level."

 BC1/2

Gold: Padraic Moran (IRE)

Silver: Lewis McConnell (SCO)

Bronze: Dylan Nelson (IRE)

 BC3

Gold: Rafael Young, assisted by David Ellis (ENG)

Silver: Daniel Elliott, assisted by Billy Elliott (NIR)

Bronze: Michaela Hollywood, assisted by Victoria McCoy (NIR)

 BC4

Gold: Sophie Newnham (ENG)

Silver: Fiona Muirhead (SCO)

Bronze: Penny Froude (ENG)

 Full results are available here - BC1/2, BC3, BC4

GB win third medal at World Championships

Great Britain return home with a third medal from the World Boccia Championships in Rio. The BC1/2 Team yesterday secured silver after a nail-biting final with South Korea.

GB’s Bc1/2 team win silver at the world championships

The GB trio – David Smith OBE, Claire Taggart and Will Hipwell - led for the first half of the match, overpowering the Koreans 3-0. But danger came in the fourth end when the opposition levelled to 4-4 and then took a two-point lead in the fifth. A fantastic shot, right onto the GB jack, by Taggart, ensured Great Britain would win the final end but the Koreans successfully created a barrier to prevent the Brits scoring any further points.

Earlier in the day, the Team cruised through the semi-final with Argentina, sending the scoreline rocketing to 10-1.

It’s the first time that Great Britain has appeared in three World Championships finals. Claire Taggart made history by becoming the first female to win the BC2 women’s World Championship title since the male and female individual events have been separated:

“I’m delighted to be coming home as World Champion. I didn’t expect it at all. It’s been an amazing Championships. And to add a second medal in the Team is incredible. I’m so proud of David, Will and also Sarah and Tom, our coaches.

“Paris 2024 is under two years away now and it’s exciting going into it as World Champion but it’s not time to get complacent or look beyond next year. We’ll focus on the events coming round including the Europeans and aiming to qualify for Paralympics with the Team. Paris looks great and I can’t wait to fight the journey to get there.”

And David Smith OBE may have lost his world title but he returns home with two silver medals and all-important ranking points for Paris 2024.

“We had a really good tournament and we (the Team) finished a lot higher than we were expecting coming into this but actually we are all a little bit deflated because we had a chance to win that game. To be so close is gutting, frankly. But we’ve done really well in the whole in this tournament so that’s a positive.”

It was Will Hipwell’s first medal at a major event, outside of World Cup tournaments:

“It feels fantastic to medal at a World Championships, considering that as a Team in the last World Championships in 2018 we didn’t make it out of the group stage. So it feels good to have achieved playing in the final and getting on the podium.”

Performance Director Greg Baker is thrilled with the squad’s performances:

“This World Championships in Rio has truly shown the strength in depth internationally in all classifications in Boccia. Nevertheless, the Great Britain squad has performed to high levels, bringing back three medals and some other fantastic performances across the squad. We have beaten top level opposition and players inside the top five ranked positions in the world. This will give us a platform to build on for the future as we try and increase our strength in depth and breadth across the world class programme. We have an exciting future ahead of us as we head into 2023 for Paris qualification and we want to keep improving as a squad. 

“Other countries will come back even stronger in future events and so it’s our priority to keep learning, developing and being committed to being better. I want to say a big thank you to all the athletes, coaches, support staff and assistants for what has been a long and hard couple of weeks. Their work is outstanding and we have shown great collective togetherness which is important for our culture. 

“With three finals, one gold medal and two silver medals, we have certainly put Boccia UK on the map, and we absolutely want to stay there. It’s now time to reflect, debrief and rest during the Christmas period and then start getting ready for what will be another busy year in 2023.”

GB Team into semi-finals

Fresh from winning a gold and a silver in the individuals at the World Boccia Championships in Rio, the GB BC1/2 Team is into the semi-finals following a nail-biting encounter against Portugal. 

Newly crowned BC2 World Champion Claire Taggart and David Smith OBE, who won silver in the BC1 category, will be eyeing another medal alongside team-mate Will Hipwell.

Going right down to tiebreak after scoring five apiece, the pressure was on but Britain took the lead, playing critical balls brilliantly:

“The team have put in some consistently solid performances over the last couple of days and find themselves at the business end of a world championships,” said Boccia UK Performance Director Greg Baker. “They are collaborating and working effectively as a team, with all members playing crucial shots at the right time. 

On Monday, the trio seized an 11-0 win over Canada. And yesterday, a 7-2 victory for the Team over the Netherlands put them at the top of pool D.

They now face Argentina, who are third in the world rankings. Smith said:

“Argentina are great players, they’re a good Team and have just beaten the world’s best, Thailand, in the semi-finals. We’re all really looking forward to it. It’ll be a good clash.”

Taggart explained:

"We last played Argentina in Tokyo and it was a really good game. We won but it was tight., It's important not to get complacent now and focus on the game in hand. We're playing well and we hope to continue that tomorrow."

The GB Team sit in number five spot of the rankings and won gold at the World Cup in Povoa earlier this year. British hopes now rest on them as the BC3 Pair and BC4 Pair were not able to progress into knock-out rounds.

The BC3 Pair found themselves in a very tough pool alongside South Korea - Paralympic Champions - and World Champions, Greece.

Reading’s Will Arnott and Antrim’s Robyn McBride went down 0-7 to Korea before losing on tiebreak to the impressive Greece pair, In their final pool match, they ended on a high winning 12-0 over South Africa.

In the BC4 Pairs, Stephen McGuire and Fiona Muirhead, both from Lanarkshire, got off to a good start with an important and solid win over Hungary. But they were overcome by the world number two pairing from Hong Kong and were then defeated by Spain.

Claire is World Champion

British boccia star Claire Taggart became World Champion in Rio de Janeiro last night after a 7-1 victory.

Up against Rebecca Duarte of El Salvador in the BC2 women’s final, it was never really in doubt for the talent from Larne in Northern Ireland. Earning a point in the first end on her own jack, Taggart delivered a masterclass in moving things around on court to make things happen, even resetting Duarte’s jack to the centre. Duarte was able to claw back a point to start the fourth end 5-1. But a superb final shot from Taggart pushed the jack to score a further two points.

Claire Taggart is world boccia champion

Taggart said:

“I’m in shock and delight to have won. I’m a little bit tired but I’m buzzing to go again in the Team with David and Will. Thanks everyone for sending so much support. I guess this is for Northern Ireland.”

claire taggart wins the world boccia championships in rio

She is first woman to become World Champion since the men’s and women’s individual competitions were separated.

Meanwhile, three-time Paralympic gold medallist David Smith (Eastleigh/Swansea) won the BC1 silver medal after the formidable opponent of Witsanu Huadpradit of Thailand won 5-0:

“I’m a little bit deflated but I’m satisfied with how I played,” said Smith. “It was a bit frustrating that I had a few hits that didn’t do anything. Congratulations to Huadpradit – he’s always been a big rival of mine so I don’t mind losing to him as such. I had a chance and unfortunately the floor didn’t let me take it and that’s just how it goes.”

david smith obe wins silver at the world boccia championships

It is the first time that two players from Britain have featured in the individual finals of the World Boccia Championships since 2010. Performance Director Greg Baker says the outstanding results this week are testament to the dedication and sheer hard work of players:

“I am incredibly proud of how the team have performed out here in Rio. Two fantastic medals and a great platform for us to build from as we get closer to Paris 2024. Claire has been very consistent at this competition and has shown her world class level throughout. David will be disappointed to not win another world title, but he won a great silver medal and knowing him he will build and progress over the next 18 months to be as strong as he can be for Paris. 

“The rest of the team have also had some great wins, beating top 10 ranked players and progressing into last 16 and quarter final matches. They should be proud of their achievements and I know all of them want to improve and maximise their potential to be amongst semi-finals and onwards in future competitions. This is now our mission to do just that as a collective athlete and staff team. 

“I want to say a big thank you to the coaches, support staff, ramp assistants and assistants who - as always - have worked incredibly hard and all play such a significant part in any results we achieve when we are away at competition,” added Baker.

There is little time to celebrate however as the squad is back in action for Team and Pairs. And Britain will be riding high with Taggart and Smith both featuring in the BC1/2 Team alongside Cambridge Paralympian Will Hipwell.

Claire and David both into World Championship finals

Britain is guaranteed two medals at the World Boccia Championships in Rio de Janeiro later today as David Smith OBE and Claire Taggart both storm into the finals.

Three-time Paralympic gold medallist David Smith (Eastleigh/Swansea) is of course defending his title having won it in Liverpool in 2018, securing him the triple crown alongside Paralympic and European gold medal honours.

“It’s been a really good day this morning – both the quarter finals and the semi-finals were tight games and I’m really happy to be in the final,” said Smith. “It’s been a hard competition so far. I’m not necessarily moving things around the court as I would normally do so the scores are tight but I’m still in it and I’m going to keep fighting and hopefully, I’ll pick up a decent win.”

Davbid Smith in semi-final action

Facing Portugal’s Andre Ramos in the semi-final, Smith led the way with a 4-1 victory. Earlier in the day, he took a 5-1 win over South Korea’s Sungjoon Jung. He now faces Witsanu Huadpradit of Thailand.

Meanwhile, Claire Taggart of Larne in Northern Ireland is also celebrating a place in the final after she overcame Karina Martinez Sandoval of Mexico. Notching up a score of 7-1, Taggart’s dominance in the game was never in doubt. She now faces El Salvador’s Rebecca Duarte (ESA) who is ranked world number seven:

“I am delighted to have got to the final,” says Taggart. “I’m happy with the way I’ve played and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Earlier in the day, Taggart was handed a fast pass into the semi-finals after Yeung of Hong Kong – her quarter final opponent – withdrew from the tournament.

claire taggart secures a place in the final

Performance Director Greg Baker has been really pleased with the squad’s performances:

“As we come to the end of the individual competition, the GB team has had some fantastic individual performances which we can certainly build on next year and Paris 2024 qualification. Players have beaten top 10 international ranked players in the world and seven of our nine athletes here have progressed into the knockout stages. The players have set a platform for from which they can progress and it’s now a collective effort to make even more improvements next year. 

“David and Claire have been outstanding and shown what great athletes they are. We have two World Champion individual finalists for the first time since 2010. The squad will be supporting them both in their finals. 

“We have that to look forward to and the team and pairs event then starts the following day, which will be important not only as it’s a World Championships but it’s crucial for Paris qualification points,” Baker added.

There was disappointment for Will Arnott who was stopped at the quarter final stages by the Czech Republic’s Adam Peska. The current Paralympic Champion beat the Reading player 6-2. Earlier in the day, Arnott beat British team-mate Patrick Wilson of Edinburgh 5-0.

Antrim’s Robyn McBride’s progress in the tournament was halted in the last 16 by Ana Costa of Portugal who won 4-1. They last met at the World Cup earlier this year in the same venue. In that match, Costa won 12-0. But today’s scoreline is testament to McBride’s increasing confidence as an international player.

7 BRITS INTO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP KNOCK OUTS

The British boccia squad has had a brilliant start to the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro with seven players going through to knock-out rounds.

Three-time gold medallist David Smith OBE from Eastleigh – now living in Swansea - is defending his World Championship title. And it’s certainly going to plan for the BC1 player. Day one saw Smith overcome Spain’s Serafin Rodriguez 6-1 before today beating Dohyun Kim of South Korea. He is now into tomorrow’s quarter finals,

david smith obe

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Claire Taggart is also progressing well. The World number two from Larne delivered a masterclass on day one, beating Greece’s Dionysia Tsakiri 12-0. She followed up with a second win in her BC2 group, overcoming Hungary’s Vivien Nagy 9-1. Like Smith, she too now prepares for tomorrow’s quarter final.

Robyn McBride – also of Northern Ireland – has also impressed the international boccia circuit. She is a relative newcomer to the British squad and the World Class Programme, supported by UK Sport, but she has defeated two players ranked above her in her BC3 pool matches. Day one saw the Antrim player triumph over Thailand’s Ladamanee Kia-Han who is currently world number four. And proving her success was not just a flash in the pan, she subsequently beat the Czech Republic’s Marcela Cermakova, who is world number 12.

robyn mcbride

Elsewhere in the BC3s, Patrick Wilson from Edinburgh also has two wins under his belt. He was able to take a 5-2 win over Portugal’s Jose Goncalves, who currently sits in the number three spot of the world rankings, before going on to a 4-2 victory over Australia’s Spencer Cotie.

Will Arnott of Reading also joined in Britain’s celebrations, claiming a 6-1 win over former World Champion Hansoo Kim of Korea. He played his second pool match today, losing 1-8 to Akkadej Choochuenklin of Thailand. But he has earned a place in the last 16 and faces team-mate Wilson, guaranteeing Britain a player in the BC3 Men’s quarter-final.

Louis Saunders – who studies in Brighton - has also performed well in Rio, winning his two pool matches. The 21-year-old beat world number five Davor Komar of Croatia 5-3 before a tight 4-3 victory over Germany’s Boris Nicolai, who is ranked world number 10. Into the last 16, Saunders was just unable to take the lead against world number three Euclides Grisales,

louis saunders

"It was brilliant to win those two pool matches,” said Saunders. “Davor and Boris are both fantastic boccia players and both the games were really, really tight. I had to keep my concentration up throughout both the games so it was brilliant to get over the line and win them. Grisales is a top player – he finished second at the World Championships in Liverpool. It was a good game and I really enjoyed the challenge of what was a big, knockout game,”

Fiona Muirhead

Lanarkshire’s Fiona Muirhead may have lost her opening BC4 match to the highly ranked Yuen Cheung of Hong Kong but she made a comeback to defeat Slovenia’s Natasa Bartol 7-2 to win her place in the last 16, She was unable to progress further and was eliminated by Hungary’s Alexandra Szabo.

Cambridge’s Will Hipwell will now be looking ahead to the Team event after suffering defeat in his pool matches – losing 1-11 to Netherlands’ Bernd Meints, 0-16 to world number one Maciel Santos of Brazil and 1-7 to Minkyu Kwak of South Korea.

And it was heartbreak for Scotland’s Stephen McGuire who earlier this year underwent major surgery after he broke his knee and femur. He lost 2-4 to Kwan Hang Wong of Hong Kong 2-4 and then yesterday lost 1-5 to Edilson Chica Chica:

"I'm obviously disappointed with my results here in Rio. It's been a huge task to get here given the year of injuries. I'm proud in many ways and thankful for all the support to get me on the start line. The British squad are performing amazingly well so far and I look forward to supporting them.

"The Pairs competition begins in a few days which gives me time to refocus and recover."

Paralympian retires after 16 year career

Three-time British Paralympic boccia player Scott McCowan has today announced his retirement after 16 years in the sport.

McCowan, 31, made his Paralympic debut at London 2012 and went on to compete alongside younger brother, Jamie at Rio 2016 and the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games, where he finished just outside the medals in fourth in the BC3 category.

Scott McCowan competing at Tokyo 2020 - his third Paralympic Games

Boccia has always been a big family affair for the McCowans with Dad, Gary, travelling the world as Scott’s ramp assistant – and Mum, Linda, undertaking the same role for Jamie. In fact, the foursome all appeared on court as Scott and Jamie drew each other in their first-round pool match in Tokyo.

McCowan has become a firm fixture on the international circuit and has won medals at the European Championships and the World Championships in the BC3 Pair. But McCowan is now turning his attentions to coaching.

McCowan said:

“This was always going to be a difficult decision for me and my family after so many years in the sport but the time is right for me now to retire because although my desire to compete remains, I no longer have the drive needed for the hours of commitment required to compete at this level and have other things in my life that I want to pursue more. However, I’m not stepping away entirely as I have decided to focus on coaching and I will hopefully be in Paris to cheer on my girlfriend, Claire, my brother Jamie and the rest of the squad.

The McCowan family who appeared on court together at Tokyo 2020

It is no secret that I could not have had the career that I have had without the unlimited support from my parents, and I know without a doubt that nobody could come close to reaching the level that my Dad has maintained throughout the years so I must thank them. I believe it’s time that my Dad had a well-earned rest, as he also has lost the desire to dedicate the same amount of time to trying to compete with the best in the world.”

Glynn Tromans, Performance Coach, said:

“I’ve coached Scott for more than a decade and he and his family have shown huge dedication which has maintained his place as one of the world’s best BC3 boccia players. He is a fierce and uncompromising competitor with incredible tactical skills and will be a huge asset to the sport as a coach bringing on the next generation of talent.”

Greg Baker – who joined Boccia UK this year as Performance Director – said:

“I’ve only been involved in the programme for just over two months and in that time I have been able to observe how much insight, experience and knowledge Scott brings to the sport of Boccia. He has had a fantastic career, one of which he should be very proud of, and we wish both him and his dad, Gary, a great retirement.” 

GB name nine for World Championships

David Smith OBE and Claire Taggart - both fresh from winning British titles this weekend - have both been named in Great Britain's 9-strong boccia squad for the 2022 World Boccia Championships in Rio de Janeiro from 3-14 December.

Smith (from Eastleigh, but lives in Swansea) became Britain’s most successful boccia player of all time when he claimed his third Paralympic gold medal in Tokyo. He is also reigning World Champion and will be aiming to retain the title he won in Liverpool in 2018.

David Smith on his way to winning gold at the Rome Challenger last month

“The Worlds and the Paralympics are the big events for us in the calendar. In terms of ranking points, it has a big impact so it’s important as we lead into Paris 2024. And it’s also important in terms of National Lottery funding.”

Claire Taggart from Larne in Northern Ireland is also a tournament favourite, currently sitting in the world number two spot of the women’s BC2 rankings. She has impressed on the World Cup circuit this year, claiming two gold medals in Povoa after winning the individual BC2 event and the Team event with David Smith and Will Hipwell.

This will be the first time in the history of World Boccia Championships that women will play in a separate individual competition to the men.

“Previously, I would have played against the men but World Boccia at the back end of last year introduced separate individual competitions for men and women. I’m really hoping this will drive participation among women and girls in the sport. It’s an exciting prospect because we now have more medal opportunities as a team,” says Taggart.

Claire Taggart heads to Rio as World number two

They will be joined by four other Paralympians Will Hipwell (Cambridge), Patrick Wilson (Edinburgh), Stephen McGuire (Lanarkshire) and Louis Saunders (Bognor Regis).

New faces in the squad complete the line-up. Will Arnott (Reading) and Robyn McBride (Belfast). cemented their positions in the team after winning a silver and bronze medal respectively in Veldhoven. The duo went on to win a silver medal in the Pairs event.

Fiona Muirhead (Lanarkshire) has also featured for Great Britain in recent tournaments and is growing in experience and confidence in every competition.

Boccia UK Performance Director Greg Baker said:

The World Championships in Rio give us a great opportunity to see where we are with the rest of the world as we get closer to Paris 2024. It will also be a great opportunity for our athletes to gain important ranking points towards Paris qualification. 

 “It will certainly be our toughest test since the Tokyo 2020 Games and the team is confident they can take positive performances from International Challenger events and World Cups this year into the Worlds. The athletes have shown their competitiveness across the world stage this year and are excited to take this momentum into Rio. Likewise, it's a chance for all the athletes and staff to take stock, understand where we are as a programme and understand where we need to get to with Paris 2024 fast approaching.”

 The Brits will be joined by athletes from around 30 nations and they will descend on Rio to battle it out for World titles as well as ranking points ahead of the Paris Paralympics in 2024.

BC1 Male

David Smith supported by Sarah Nolan

 BC2 Male

Will Hipwell supported by Nick Hipwell (tbc)

 BC2 Female

Claire Taggart supported by Stevie Taggart

 BC3 Male

Patrick Wilson supported by Meredith Greenwood

Will Arnott supported by Connor Wellfare

 BC3 Female

Robyn McBride supported by Davy McBride

 BC4 Male

Stephen McGuire supported by Michaela Rihackova

Louis Saunders supported by Steve Richards

 BC4 Female

Fiona Muirhead supported by Susan McMillan

Taggart and Haggo make history at the British

Claire Taggart and Kayleigh Haggo entered the history books this weekend as the pair starred in the first ever all-female final at the UK Boccia Championships.

The tournament, which took place in Swansea over the 15-16 October, also saw the highest female representation ever achieved in the medal matches.

Claire Taggart and Kayleigh Haggo make boccia history

Taggart from Northern Ireland stormed to the win with a 6-2 victory but it was also a brilliant performance from Haggo who has recently added boccia to her sporting cv alongside competing as a world record frame-runner.

“It’s been a fantastic weekend full of performance Boccia matches,” said Greg Baker, Boccia UK Performance Director. “From start to finish, there has been promising, new and upcoming talented athletes competing against current World Class Porgramme athletes which is exactly what the UK Champs aims to do.

“It has also been fantastic to see the number of female athletes at the Championships who have progressed to the medal matches, especially with those athletes competing at their first UK championships. This illustrates a positive future for the sport and we are already looking forward to next year’s competition where we hope to see even more athletes come through the pathway and compete.”

Earlier today, Taggart beat England’s Jason Rolph 8-1 in the semi-final while Haggo edged out London player Reshad Saraj 5-4. Saraj took the bronze with a 7-1 victory over Rolph.

It was a giant battle of the brothers in the BC3 with Scotland’s Scott McCowan facing younger brother Jamie.

And today, it was the turn of Jamie to triumph, winning 5-2 over Scott.

Jamie McCowan wins BC3 gold

Jamie had previously overcome fellow GB team-mate Will Arnott 3-2 while Scott triumphed over up and coming 17-year-old Sally Kidson 4-2. Will Arnott from Reading took the bronze. 

In the BC4s, Louis Saunders grabbed the gold with a 9-1 win over young Sophie Newnham, a student at Treloars, who has shown great promise as an upcoming player at this tournament.

Earlier, Saunders had beaten Penny Froude 6-1 while Newnham caused a surprise upset beating Stephen McGuire 3-2 on tiebreak.

Louis Saunders with Sophie Newnham

McGuire had to settle for bronze after a 5-0 win over Froude.

Meanwhile, David Smith claimed the gold in the BC1 category - run in a round robin format - and was followed in silver medal position by England's Richard Armstrong and Wales' Rob Morgan with the bronze.

The UK Championships is finally back

It’s been a long time coming for British boccia players but the UK Championships is finally back. The event has been put on hold since it was staged in 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hosted by Disability Sport Wales at the LC Swansea, day one has seen solid performances from established world class athletes as well as up and coming players from right across the UK.

You can catch up on all the results here.

Young Harrison Smith (England) lines up against European Champion Stephen McGuire in the BC4s

England’s Sophie Newnham takes a shot

Scotland’s Tyler McLelland

Rachel Ross represents Boccia England

England’s Penny Froude up against Wales’ Tomas Martin

17-year-old Sally Kidson in pool A of the BC3s

Boccia legend hopes UK Championships will help grow the sport

Three-times Paralympic gold medallist David Smith OBE is hoping that this weekend’s British Championships will encourage more people to take up the sport.

Smith – who is from Eastleigh but has lived in Swansea for the last ten years – is the current Paralympic, World and European Champion. He retained his Paralympic title in Tokyo and became Britain’s most successful boccia player of all time.

He will be representing Great Britain at the LC Swansea as well as Swansea Community Boccia Club, the club which he first set up in 2009. He has breathed new life into the club this year, after the club paused during the pandemic, and is focussing on providing boccia for everyone.

David Smith OBE wins gold at Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

“I’m really looking forward to the UK Championships,” said Smith. “It’s the first time it’s been held in Swansea, and the LC is my home training base. I’m very familiar with that and it should be a great atmosphere. It’s good training ahead of the World Championships in December but it’s also a chance for players in the pathway to compete against World Class Programme athletes.”

Smith has taken on the mission of encouraging new players into the sport and is passionate about nurturing local talents at the Swansea club:

“I’m hoping that those who have just started playing or those who fancy giving it a try will come along and be inspired. It’s a great opportunity to see boccia being played at a world-class level and to get to know the British players.”

The UK Championships will feature seven Paralympians. a number of World Cup athletes as well as up and coming players. Disability Sport Wales CEO Fiona Reid says that hosting the Championships in Wales is a not-to-be-missed opportunity:

“Hosting the Boccia UK Championships is not only a huge privilege, but also a mark of our commitment to do more – more for those not yet involved in boccia, more for those already involved and more for the sport.”

A key name to note on the entry list is World number two Claire Taggart from Larne in Northern Ireland. Taggart won silver at the European Championships last November and she returned home from the Povoa World Cup with two gold medals, having claimed victory in the individual BC2 competition as well as the team event, alongside David Smith and Will Hipwell.

The British squad can opt to represent their home nation at the UK Championships with Boccia England, Disability Sport Northern Ireland, Scottish Disability Sport and Disability Sport Wales all fielding teams.  

“It’s always a privilege to represent Northern Ireland,” says Taggart. “The UK Champs always hold a special place for me as it’s where I was spotted by Boccia UK in 2014. I always look forward to seeing and playing new and upcoming players.”

Taggart might find herself up against her teammate Will Hipwell as well as Reshad Saraj and Kayleigh Haggo who have both represented Great Britain in recent months.

Scotland’s McCowan brothers, Scott and Jamie, will also take to the courts with parents Gary and Linda as ramp assistants. The Dundonald duo are tournament favourites in the BC3 competition alongside British team-mates Will Arnott from Reading and Robyn McBride from Belfast.

Scott said, “We don’t get many opportunities to compete for Scotland so we always enjoy the British Champs. Scottish Boccia have always supported me and without them I wouldn’t have got into the GB squad.”

But it’s also worth keeping an eye on Salisbury’s Sally Kidson. At 17-years-old, she made an impressive British debut in August finishing fourth in the women’s BC3 competition at the World Boccia Intercontinental Challenger in Poznan, Poland.

European Champion Stephen McGuire from Lanarkshire is reigning European Champion and leads the BC4 entry list. Making a comeback from major injury earlier this year, McGuire will be expected to do well as will Bognor Regis’ Louis Saunders, who was Britain’s youngest Paralympic boccia player in Tokyo. They will be joined by a strong field of British pathway athletes.

Smith cements position as World No1 ahead of Rio

Britain’s David Smith OBE has cemented his position as world number one ahead of the World Boccia Championships in Rio in December.

The Eastleigh talent – who now lives in Swansea – was unbeaten at the Rome World Boccia Challenger. Facing the newly classified John Loung from Hong Kong in the final, Smith claimed a 9-2 victory:

“I’ve known Loung for a long time. He used to be a BC2 and he’s a good competitor. He plays in the Hong Kong BC1/2 Team event too which is very strong," says Smith. "For me, he’s a very solid BC1 just in the same way as Daniel Perez and Huadpradit. I enjoy playing them all. I was able to stretch away towards the end in Rome but he’s one to definitely keep an eye on at the Worlds in two months’ time.”

Claire Taggart was also able to continue adding to her medal collection, sealing an 8-2 victory in the BC2 bronze medal match over Sona Aghayeva of Azerbaijan. The world number two from Larne in Northern Ireland is relishing the introduction of female-only events and recent success augurs well for the World Championships.

Greg Baker – Boccia UK’s new Performance Director – travelled to Rome and was able to see the team in competitive action for the first time:

“It was great to see the athletes compete as they prepare for the World Championships in December. We had several challenges in which the athletes showed great resilience and strength to overcome, especially with the heat management. We had some very promising performances that we can take forwards to the Worlds with us.

“All the athletes, coaches and support staff worked incredibly hard and all showed fantastic commitment. Of course, there is still work to be done as we prepare for the Worlds, but overall it was a very positive experience that we can learn and reflect from as we move forwards to Rio.”

CCCl

Outside of the medals. Fiona Muirhead of Lanarkshire, who is relatively new to international competition, was able to claim two wins in her BC4 pool matches before being eliminated by world number one Michaela Balcova of Slovakia.

Meanwhile, fellow BC4 Stephen McGuire won his play off, securing him a place in the quarter-finals. However, he was withdrawn on medical grounds due to the hot conditions. But he was still able to draw positives from the tournament following major surgery earlier this year:

“The sharpness has begun to return to my play which bodes well for the lead into the World Championships.”

In the BC3 category, Will Arnott and Patrick Wilson both made an exit at the playoff stages, denying them a spot in the quarter-finals. 

Will Hipwell and Robyn McBride, in the BC2 and BC3 categories respectively, both claimed wins in their pool matches but it just wasn’t enough to secure passage into the knockout stages.

In the Team and Pairs, the BC1/2 Team and the BC4 Pairs were both eliminated at the quarter-final stages.

The BC1/2 Team – featuring David Smith, Claire Taggart and Will Hipwell – was defeated 2-6 by France.

Smith explains:

“I was a bit disappointed with our performance in the Team event – we've come away with a few things to work on. We didn’t take our chances apart from in the Spain game when they gave us plenty of opportunity to maximise and we did to an extent. But you have to take your chances at this level.

The BC4 Pairs were beaten by Thailand but Lanarkshire pair Stephen McGuire and Fiona Muirhead quickly made amends by triumphing over Germany 6-1. But a place on the podium for Britain was stopped by Azerbaijan who took a tiebreak victory.

The BC3 Pairs – made up of Patrick Wilson and Robyn McBride - suffered defeat to Turkey before they were forced to forfeit their second match against India at half-time. This was again due to the hot conditions and Wilson requiring medical attention.